Passengers hot under the collar over Midland Metro air conditioning
People who regularly use the Midland Metro tram line to get around the West Midlands have complained about the lack of air conditioning in the carriages during hot weather.
The complaints come as the UK experienced two of the hottest days so far this year, with temperatures reaching a sweltering 21 degrees last week. Some passengers have even collapsed in the heat.
The air conditioning, which is fitted as standard on all Metro services, appears not to be working, even when it is switched on, according to some passengers.
Taking their complaints to Twitter on a special page called Midland Metroll, one traveller, Martin Kite said: "I can hear the fans on the tram I'm on to be honest, but this doesn't seem to be doing a great deal."
Another Twitter user, Chris Bates said: "The conductor this morning didn't open the window. Is it not just standard practise in summer?"
Ross Moran said: "Sort the air con out on these trams, 8.35am from West Brom, absolute sweat box, windows locked too."
Nikita Bhandari said: "The tram is absolutely rammed, no windows open."
On May 8, the hottest day of the year so far, Matt Metroll said: "26 degrees and the air con still not working. Makes you wonder if the 'new' metros even have it."
Lee Daniels said: "Tram 21 is a sweat box. Please can air conditioning be turned on on all trams."
Traveller Jim McKechnie said: "Is it really honestly working and turned on? Tram again this morning was a sweaty, humid mess. No windows open either."
Some passengers believe that the windows can only be opened within the carriages as long as the doors are closed. However, this has done little to relieve some passengers' experience of the heat.
Tweeting yesterday, even after a spell of hot weather had come to an end, Phillip Eddington said: "@MidlandMetro I would like to know why it seems so hard to get some windows open on the trams. Sometimes its very warm on them. Not just me."
Bus Users UK chief executive Claire Walters said: "Our advice to anyone experiencing difficulties on a tram or bus would be to talk to the driver to find out if there's anything that can be done to improve conditions.
"Some ventilation systems can only function effectively if all the windows are closed so it may also be worth contacting your local operator to ask them the question so you can sensibly plan for the summer months.
"As always, it's useful to take some water with you, just in case. Heating is a constant issue for many passengers, and it can make conditions particularly challenging for the 1 in 4 of us who suffer from mental health issues and anxiety.
"Bus Users is working with Anxiety UK and transport operators to help make public transport accessible to everyone."
The Metro service is owned by Centro, the main transport executive in the West Midlands. It is operated by National Express.
